Control apparatus



y 9, 1944. H. s. YOUNG CONTROL APPARATUS Original Filed Nov. 26, 1941 we I 14 5 /6 lied INVENTOR )Zwry J? Yo'aay BY a c Hf ATTORNEY Patented May 9, 1944 UNITED STATES E TENT OFFICE CONTROL APPARATUS Henry S. Young, Wilkinsburg, Pa., assignor to The Union Switch & Signal Company, Swissvale, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania 3 Claims.

My invention relates to control apparatus, and has particular reference to the organization of such apparatus into remote control or train dispatching systems of the class wherein traflic controlling functions located at a field station are governed by controls transmitted 'from a remote ofiice station over a communication system. More particularly, my invention relates to train dispatching or centralized traffic controlling systems of the class wherein remote control of railway track switches is efiected by means of switch operating mechanisms having a dual selector operable to one position for conditioning the associated track switch for manual operation and to another position for conditioning the track switch for operation by the switch operating machine.

My invention is applied to a train dispatching or centralized traffic controlling system of the class involving control relays of the polar type efiective when deenergized to retain their polar armatures in the last operated position, and which systems are arranged to position the polar armatures of the control relays in response to energy momentarily applied to such relays in response to controls transmitted from a remote office over a communication system. One such system of this type is shown, for example in Letters Patent of the United States No. 2,273,231, granted February 1'7, 1942, to Clarence S. Snavely and Alfred B. Miller.

An object of my invention is the provision, in a system of the class described, of novel and improved means arranged to require a control to be transmitted from the oifice to the field station in order to obtain operation of a track switch by a switch operating mechanism following a restoration of the selector lever to its power operating position after the selector has been moved to its manual operating position.

Another object is the provision in a system of the class described, of novel and improved means for preventing automatic operation of a track switch by a switch operating mechanism in the event that the selector lever is restored to its power operating position after the track switch is manually operated to a position out of corre spondence with the remotely controlled apparatus.

The above-mentioned and other important objects and characteristic features which will become readily apparent from the following de" scription, are attained in accordance with my invention by employing a stick relay normally energized over a stick circuit controlled by a I conditions the switch for operation by a power contact closed only in the motor operating position of the dual selector lever; by including a front contact of the stick relay in the circuit over which the switch operating relay is controlled by the remotely controlled switch control relay; and by providing the stick relay with a pick-up circuit completed only when the track switch and the remotely controlled switch control relay are in positions of correspondence.

The present application is a division of my copending application, Serial No. 420,487, filed on November 26, 1941, for Control apparatus.

I shall describe one form of apparatus embodying my invention and shall then point out the novel features thereof in claims.

The accompanying drawing is a diagrammatic view illustrating one form of apparatus embodying my invention.

Referring to the drawing, the reference character CW designates a crossover provided at opposite ends with two track switches, designated by the reference characters W with suitable distinguishing sufiixes, each operatively connected with a dual selector type of switch operating mechanism. The operating mechanism associated with switch WI, for example, comprises a dual selector lever SI which operates a link I. When selector lever SI is in its normal or power operating position, as shown in the drawing, link switch operating mechanism SMI, and when lever SI is in its reverse position, the link conditions switch WI for operation by a manually operable lever H. Operatively connected with link I is a contact member 6 which is operated into engagement with another contact member I when and only when lever SI is in its power operating position. The switch WI also is operatively connected with a contact member 8 which is operated into engagement with a set of contacts 9 or III according as the switch is in its normal or reverse position respectively. The operating mechanism associated with track switch W2 is similar to the operating mechanism just described for switch WI, as can be seen from an inspection of the drawing, and further detailed explanation is deemed unnecessary.

The power operating switch mechanisms SM! and SM2 may be of any suitable type, such as, for example, electric or electropneumatic switch machines. The switch mechanisms are controlled in accordance with the usual practice by switch control means comprising a polarized relay WR and it is deemed sufficient to state that when relay WR is energized by current of normal or one relative polarity to close its front contact I4 and operate its polar armature I5 to its normal position, or left-hand position as viewed in Fig. 1, switch mechanisms SMI and SMZ are caused to operate their associated switches to their respective normal positions, and that when relay WR is energized by current of reverse olarity to close its front contact I4 and operate its polar armature I5 to its reverse or righthand position, the switch mechanisms are then caused to operate their associated switches to their respective reverse positions.

The reference character WS designates a control relay for controlling switch operating relay WR. Relay WS is a polar relay of the polar stick type that when deenergized: retains its polar armature in its last operated position, and as shown in the drawing, relay WS has two windings, one winding of which when energized is capable of positioning the polar armature of the relayin one of its extreme positions and. theother winding of which when: energized is capable of. positioning the polar armature in its other extreme position.

Relay WS is manually, controlled from a central. GfilCe in a; well-known manner.- by means: of. any suitablecommunication.or centralized traffic control system, such asfor example, that shown in the aforesaid Snavelyand. Miller. Patent No; 2,273,231 For-the purposes of the present description, it is deemed sumcientto state. that the polar armature of relay WS: is positioned in one extreme position in response. to energy applied momentarily to one ofits two windings in response to a characteristic. control. code transmittedfrom. the omce to the field station, and is positioned. in the other extreme position in response to energy momentarily applied tothe other of itstwowindings in response to: a characteristically different control code transmitted from. the office to the field station.

The reference charactersSR withsuitably distinguishing suflixes designate two stick relays oneforeach' trackswitch WI and W2. Each stick relay isprovided with apick-up circuit com.- pleted. when and only when thev associated switch occupiesa. position, indicated by. the associated switch. operated contact. member 8, in agreement with the positionv of. the. polar armature of control relay WS.. For example, when the polar. armature of relay WS. is in its left-hand position. and. switch WI occupies, its. normal posit-ion,.relay. SRI is provided. with a, pick-uncircuit extending from one terminal B of a suitable source of current. such as a battery.' not shown, through polar contact. 35. of relay. WS., closed. in the-normalor left-hand position of the polar armature of relay W-S, contact 9. 8.9 operated by. switch. WI. and closed inthe normal positionoi the sw-itch,.the.winding of relay SRI. and contacts.- 'I.fi. of selector levers SI and S2, respectively, to, the other. terminal C of. the same source of; current. Similarly, when switch W2 and the polar armature. of relay- WS are in their respective normal positions, relay SR2. is. then. provided with a. pick-up circuit which extends from terminal B. throughv polar contact 36. of relay WS. closedv in. the. leftshand position of the. polar armature of. relay WS,.contact 989 operated by switchWZ. and. closed. in the normal position of that. switch, the winding of relay SR2... and. contacts l-E of. selector levers. SI and S2,.respectively, to. terminalC. These stick relays cooperate with relay WSin the control of operating relay WR to require a control to be relay WR.

transmitted from the office to the field station in order to obtain operation of a switch by a switch machine following a restoration of the selector lever to its power operating position after the selector has been moved to its manual operating position.

In the normal condition of the apparatus, as represented in the drawing, selector levers SI and S2 are in their respective normal or power operating positions to condition the associated switches for operation by the power operating switch mechanisms; selector lever contacts 61 are closed; stick. relay SR! is energized over a sticlc circuit extending from terminal B through its own front contact 55 and winding, and selector lever contacts 7-6 to terminal C; stick relay. SR2: is energized over a stick circuit eX- tending from terminal B through front contact 5i the winding of relay SR2, and selector lever contacts 6-l to terminal C; switch-operating relay WR is energized by current'oi. one

relative polarity over a circuit. extending from' terminal l3v through. front contact.- 3.4 of relay SR2, front contact35.ofrelay SRI, polar contact IB. of. relay- WS in. its normal or left-hand p0.-

sitlon, as viewed in the drawing, front contact i9 controlled. by the electric locking apparatusordinarily. incorporated into. switch control. ap.-- paratus, the winding of relay. WR, frontcontact.

20 controlled. by the. electric locking apparatus. and polar contact 2 I. of relay: WS in its normal position to terminal. C. The. polarity of. current supplied. at this time to. relay WR is such. as tocause. that. relay to operate itsv polar armature to a. positioninagreement with'the position. of the polar armature. of relay WS.. Each track switch W I and W2, as pointed out hereinbefore, occupiesa position depending. upon. the position of the polar armature of. relay. WR,. and hencev each track. switch also agrees in position. with ture of relay WS in its other extreme. position.

When this happens, relay WS reverses the positionof its polar armature to reverse the polarity of currentenergizing switch operating relay WR,,. as is readily apparent from an inspectionof the.

drawing, and as a result relay WR. reverses its polar armature I 5 to cause each track switch WI and W2 to be operated by its associated power switch operating mechanism to its other extreme position, wherein each switch WI andWZ agrees in position with. both switch operating relay W-R.

and switch control relay WS. The track switches WI and W2 may of coursebe restored totheir respective normal positions by the operator causing the characteristic code corresponding to the normal position of relay WS to be transmitted over the communication system.

The track switches WI and W2 may also be locally operated by a trainman- To do this, a selector lever is first moved to its manual op.- erating position to condition the associatedswitch for manual operation. For example, if lever SI is moved to its manual operating position, contact 6-? associated with that lever is opened to interrupt the previously traced stickcircuits of both relays SRI and SR2, whereupon front contacts 3 3 and 35 open and thereby remove relay WS from control. of. switch operating It is apparent, therefore, that remote control of the switches will be prevented at this time should a control be transmitted to a field station in an attempt by the operator to efiect operation of the switches. Local operation of switch WI may, however, be attained by the trainman operating manual operating lever H associated with that switch. After manual operation of that switch has been completed, the selector lever may be restored to its normal or power operating position to condition the switch for operation by the switch mechanism, When this happens, contact 6'i associated with selector lever SI will close, and stick relays S'RI and SR2 will pick up over their respective pickup circuits provided that the position of the associated switch agrees with the position of control relay WS. For example, assume that relay WS is in its normal or left-hand position, and that selector lever SI is moved to its hand operating position, thereby opening its associated contact Q'! and causing both relays SRI and SR2 to release. After switch WI is manually operated to its reverse position, wherein switch operating contact I Il8-Ill is closed and contact 989 is opened, a restoration of selector lever SI to its normal position results in relay SR2 picking up over its previously traced pick-up circuit, but relay SR! remains released. As a result, switch operating relay WR also remains released, and operation of switch WI by power to its normal position in correspondence with switch operating relay WR and switch control relay WS will be prevented Relay SRI may be picked up, to restore control relay WS to control of operating relay WR, by the operator dispatching a code to relay WS to cause that relay to operate its polar armature to a position of correspondence with switch WI. When this happens, relay SR2 remains energized over its stick circuit while relay SRI becomes energized over a circuit extending from terminal B through polar contact 36 in its reverse or righthand position, contact Ii'J8-I(l operated by switch Wl, the winding of relay SR], and contacts 6-l operated by selector levers SI and S2, respectively, to terminal C, and relay SRI accordingly picks up to close its front contact 35 interposed in the energizing circuit of operating relay WR. Relay W'R now becomes energized by current having a polarity such as to cause the polar armature of such relay to operate to its reverse position, whereupon switch mechanism SM2 becomes energized and causes the other switch W2 to operate to its reverse position. To restore the switches to normal, the operator may send the normal code to relay WS to cause that relay to restore its polar armature to its normal position, whereupon relay WR operates to a position in agreement with relay WS and energizes mechanisms SMI and SMZ to cause such mechanisms to operate switches WI and W2 to their respective normal positions in agreement with relays WR and WS.

The switch mechanisms represented in the drawing are preferably of the electropneumatic type, hence no overload protection is provided. Should electric switch movements be employed, however, the apparatus may be modified to incorporate overload protection, which protection may be provided in any suitable manner, as for example the manner shown and covered in Letters Patent of the United States No. 2,199,952, granted on May 7, 1940 to Claude M. Hines and Bernard E. OI-Iagan. In addition, it is to be understood that the apparatus may be modified ill) to control but a single switch, in which event only one stick relay, such as relay SRI, and one switch mechanism, such as mechanism SMI, would be required.

Although I have herein shown and described only one form of control apparatus embodying my invention, it is understood that various changes and modifications may be made therein within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of my in vention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a train dispatching system for railroads, the combination with a track switch, a switch machine provided with a dual selector for selec tively conditioning said switch for operation manually or by said machine, a stick relay normally energized over stick circuit means including a front contact of said stick relay and a contact operated by said dual selector and closed only when said dual selector conditions said switch for operation by said machine, a polarized control relay, means controllable from a point remote from said switch for positioning the polar armature of said control relay, a pick-up circuit for said stick relay including a winding of said stick relay and said selector lever contact and contacts operated respectively by said switch and said polarized relay, said pick-up circuit being completed only when said selector lever contact is closed and said switch and the polar armature of said polarized control relay are in positions of agreement. andmeans for causing said switch machine to operate said switch to a position in agreement with the polar armature of said polarized control relay only when said stick relay is picked up.

2. In a train dispatching system for railroads, in combination, a dispatchers ofiice, a crossover located at a remote point and having a track switch at each end thereof, a switch machine provided for each track switch and each having a dual selector operable to one position for conditioning the associated switch for manual operation and to another position for conditioning the associated switch for operation by said machine, a stick relay for each track switch normally energized over a stick circuit including its own front contact and winding and a contact operated by the dual selector of the associated switch and which contact is closed only when said selector is in its said other position, a control relay of the polar stick type capable when deenergized of maintainin its polar armature in its last operated position, a communication system extending from said dispatchers o ifice to said remote point and capable of positioning the armature of said control relay by energy momentarily applied in response to a control transmitted by said system, a pick-up circuit for each of said stick relays, each of said pick-up circuits including the winding of the associated stick relay and said contact of the associated dual selector and contacts operated respectively by said control relay and the associated track switch, said pick-up circuits being completed only when said contact of the associated dual selector is closed and the position of the associated switch agrees with the position of the polar armature of said control relay, and circuit means for causing said switch machines to operate the associated switches to positions in agreement with the position of the polar armature of said control relay provided that said stick relays are picked up.

3.. Inaltrain dispatching system of the class comprising an office and a station interconnected by a communication system, a crossover at said station having a track switch at eachtend thereof, two switch machines one for each track switch and each provided with a dual selector for selectively conditioning the associated switch for operation manually or by said machine, two circuit controllers one operatively connected with eachof said switches and each having one contact closed only when saidswitch is in one extreme position and another contact closed only when said switch is in the other extreme position, two stick relays one for each of said switches and each normally energized over a stick,

circuit including its own front contact and wind ing and a contact operated by the associated selector and closed only'when said selector conditions the associated switch for operation by the associated machine, a polarized control relay arranged to positionits armature in response: to energy momentarily applied to its winding when a control is received at said station over said communication system, circuit means including a front contact of each of said stickrelays for causing said switch machines to operate said switches to positions of correspondence with the armature of said control relay, and a pick-up circuit for each of said stick relays including the winding of the stick relay and said contact of the associated selector and contacts operated respectively by said control relay and by the associated switch, each of said pick-up circuits being;

completed only when said contact of the associated selector is closed and the armature ofsaid control relay and the associated switch occupy corresponding relative positions.

HENRY S. YOUNG. 

